The Pork Sando With Philly Flair

While the proprietors of The Newstand coffee shop and café don’t lean heavily on advancing a newspaper theme, the sandwich menu is an homage to a few iconic publications, including The Philadelphia Inquirer. “The Inquirer is our expression of the Philly roasted pork sandwich,” says Page Pressley, chef/co-owner. It’s also an insider favorite. “It has middle-of-the-pack sales, but it shows super-high return-guest engagement.”

The Inquirer features cured, slow-roasted pork belly and pork shoulder that’s chopped and tucked into a toasted, Italian version of a baguette called a bastone, which is made in house with house-milled grains and adorned with sesame seeds. The meat is topped with roasted hot peppers, using seasonal varieties, and roasted broccoli rabe for a bit of crunch. Pressley doubles down on cheese, including both sharp provolone and a generous helping of Cooper’s Sharp cheese sauce.

“The combination of spice and acidity from the roasted peppers offsets the richness of the pork and cheese in a perfect way,” says Pressley. But the heart of the dish is the protein. “The roast pork provides comfort and surprise in an
‘if you know, you know,’ way.”

Read more Best of Flavor 2026